However, despite the new-found fame, twinned with his family’s growing fortune, Zingarevich is still the unassuming, polite and articulate person that took over Reading Football Club a year ago last month.

The first time I spoke to Zingarevich was in the Reading dressing room minutes after Mikele Leigertwood’s strike sparked a Madejski Stadium pitch invasion at the final whistle of the 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest on April 17, 2012.

Money couldn’t have bought the beaming smile across Zingarevich’s face – and that burning desire and ambition is clearly still there, despite some rocky results in 2012/13.

A different character to the out-going Sir John Madejski (I couldn’t imagine playing on the same football team as Sir John during a pre-season game against Brian McDermott and co in Portugal) – Zingarevich’s goals are the same.

Take the club to the next level, whilst continuing to create a legacy from a new training ground, stadium expansion and attempting to attract some of the world’s brightest players to Berkshire.

Things are continuing to progress the ‘Reading way’ with year-on-year financial investment, as long as the team’s performance on the pitch can help sustain that.

Zingarevich’s reign has only just begun, but if the success of his first 12 months are anything to go by, Royals fans can look forward to an exciting future.